Odisha loses 403 migrant labourers in other States over a decade

Experts believe the official figures may be an underestimation, suggesting that the actual toll could be significantly higher than what has been reported through government channels

Odisha has reported the deaths of 403 migrant labourers at their workplaces over the past decade, Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia informed the State Assembly on Tuesday.

Ganjam district, which accounts for the highest outflow of migrant workers from Odisha, recorded the most fatalities at 59. Kalahandi and Balangir followed with 39 and 35 deaths, respectively. Kandhamal reported 32 deaths, while Rayagada recorded 28. On average, about 34 migrant labourers die annually.

However, experts believe the official figures may be an underestimation, suggesting that the actual toll could be significantly higher than what has been reported through government channels.

“This year alone, 14 bodies of migrant labourers have been returned to Kandhamal district, with isolated cases reported from other districts as well,” said Umi Daniel, a noted Labour expert and head of the migration unit at Aide et Action, an international NGO.

According to Mr. Daniel, employers often take charge of sending the bodies back to their home villages when deaths occur at the workplace or during transit. “Sometimes these cases are reported to the district administration, but not always. There is no robust mechanism to track the deaths of migrant Labourers,” he added.

During a high-level meeting last month on distress migration, the Balangir district collector highlighted that since most migrant workers leave voluntarily, it becomes challenging for enforcement agencies to hold labour contractors accountable under laws relating to forced labour and human trafficking.

Mr. Daniel also emphasised that when villagers migrate without registering, employers evade responsibility for compensation, and the State is unable to extend legal support.

In the 2023-2024 financial year, the State issued licenses to 1,287 labour contractors under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, facilitating the migration of 85,009 workers to other states. Since April 1, 2024, 53,440 migrant workers have registered with 750 labour contractors for employment outside the State.

Despite these figures, the State lacks precise data on the overall outflow of migrant workers. Between November and June, more than two lakh people from western Odisha alone migrate to work in brick kilns every year. These labourers often migrate to distressed conditions and work in inhospitable situations.  Additionally, there has been a significant surge in youth migration to the apparel sector in Tamil Nadu and the wood manufacturing industry in Kerala. The actual number of migrant labourers is vastly higher than what government statistics suggest.

Lately, the Odisha government has decided to send about 100 teams of research scholars to the destination States to study the condition of workplaces like brick kilns and the availability of public distribution systems, health services and Anganwadi benefits.

Published - December 04, 2024 03:25 am IST